Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-08

STACKING DOran While he was looking ST
him, waited until he hsd left the house
and was standing on the street. Fsgg
approached from behind and fired 81 his
head. But Dorsn turning at the moment
the shot took effect in his face aud he st
once fell. Even then his native courage
did not fail him in this emergency, He
drew MS pistol and continued firing at
Fagg until the latter had fed out Of range.
Both Dorar and Frank Flynn, his most
noted satagonist, possess many com
mendable traits of character. Both are
said to be honest and upright outside
their calling, sincere in their friendship,
Of generous nature and neither was ever
accused Of lear.h
TALK WITH GOVERNOR PORTER.
Special to the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1-"No enc not
ConversGnt with the facts, can form aDy
idea Of the trials which beset q Consul If
the United States in the large manufsct-
uring towns Of Europe said Governor
Porter, Assistant Secretary Of State, 10
your correspondent to-day. "In those
large manufacturing cities" he continued,
"the population is, of course, largely
made up of manufacturers and merchants
doing business with the United States.
Owing 10 the tact that many OF our tariff
charges are based upon the values If the
goods imported, these merchants are
naturally anxious TO make it appear that
their goods are sold at figures which are
really greatly below the market prices.
The seal of the Consul is required at
the bottom Of each invoice, and
that is where the difficulty comes
in. An honest consul, and 6 majority Of
cur consular officers are honest, who is
anxious to 60 his duty to his government,
will take care to post himself thoroughly
on the market values of all the goods
exported from the district in which he is
stationed. Then when the exporter
makes out sn invoice in which he has
undervalued his goods he finds that the
consul will not certify to the correctness
| statement, as consequence the consul
in trying to do his duty to the govern
ment which employs him iucurs the
enmity of the men among whom ne must
live. This enmity breaks out in ell sorts
of petty annoyances, ard If the consul is
sensitive man he finds it very hard TO
| bear. Many instances could be cited in
which consuls aid their families sre Os-
traclsed and ignored by every one III the
/ CllI III WILL lLCl ACotAtJt Ill bSbALAoC
! are engaged in doing their duty.
Within a very few month several
! excellent men in the service have asked
| to be transferred because they could not
| stand the treatment TO which they and
their families are subjected. Within the
! past few years our cOnsuls have been
much more rigorous in examining the in
voices presented to them for seal and sig
/ %l,,
ct many millions Of dollars TO the treas
ury, but the consuIs themselves have not
had their cOmpensations increased"
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR.
Special to the Gazette.
! WAsHINGTON, Aug. Next Monday
will be the anniversary of one Of one Of
the most remarkable military trials ever
! recorded in this or any other country
Twenty four years ago there were impris-
oned in the old tobacco warehouse in
! Richmond known as Libby prison g psrty
of United States officers. Some were Of
| the regular service, some Of the volunteer
army. Among them was daring fellow
named Strait, who is now quietly en-
gagged in the book business in .
small town in Indiana. At that time
! he had planned 4 wholesale escape
! from the prison, the capture Of the guard
and the battery outside the walls aud the
! subsequent release Of the prisoners on
Belle Isle, Just across the river. The
plSn further contemplated the burning Of
Richmond and the Staying Of the officials
of the Confederate government. There
were but nine officers IL the plot and the
prospects were that it would prove sue
cesstul. But one CT the officers betrayed
the scheme and the plot was nipped In
the bud. The traitor was known and
Strait insisted that he should be tried by
q court martial composed OF the regular
officers in the prison. The court was or
gained in regular form. During the en-
tine proceedings, which lasted but s few
minutes, Strait was busy making q rope
out of some pieces Of calico. When 8
verdict had been decided upon he said
Gentlemen, you have found the prisoner
| guilty, and of course there can be but one
sentence, that of death. l will execute
the sentence"
Among the party was Gn officer of one
OF the cavalry regiments, named Louis
| Thompson. He said that while the &C.
cused was undoubtedly guilty, the court
was not legal one, and that it could not
enforce its sentence. If the traitor was
hanged his eXecutiOners would be guilty
of murder. he proposed taat the record
Of the court should be kept until one OF
the partys escaped, when it should be
sent on to Washington. He would not
allow the man to be hanged and would
sit up all night with him to protect MIN
if necessary. Strait Was determined thet
the sentence of the court should be csr
ried out, and sWore that he would hang
the william down the h2tChWay. But Thomp
son sat by his side aI night and saved
his Life. The following day he was re
movsd fran the quarters which he wa:
occ6fied, and shortly afterwards he we:
released. The record Of the court was
subsequently forwarded TO Washington
and Secretary Stanton caused him to be
dismissed from service. He was after
wards restored by Andy Johnson and il
said to be still in the service. Those
who know OF tie incident Will rot tell hi
name. Thompson was killed in one o
Clusters Indian campaigns. The onl,
other one of the party who is known t
be still in the service is cavalry Office
named Hamilton who is on frontie
post.
OF the Same Mind.